I've only seen 1-3, and I've also been kind of spoiled on 4 (damn you, Bill Simmons!) but I eagerly await this DVD set. And the fact that Season 5 is in the bag and ready to go is quite a relief since most of the other shows seem likely not to air.

Well, I was raised by a crack dealer married to an undercover narcotics officer in Baltimore and can tell you it's horrible. Not only do they not talk like that, the accents are all wrong. It's like someone watched some show about DC crime and made a whole show about it without knowing anything more.

Oh...and Maryland crab cakes are WAY different than they appear on this show.

First four seasons summarized in four and a half minutes. The spoiler to end all spoilers, obviously, so don't watch it if you have any desire to be surprised when you finally get around to watching this stuff on DVD (as you should).

I love the little subtleties of this show. Many references to Homicide: Life on the Street for one. I was really knocked back by the revelation that Rawls was gay...even though it was never even touched on again other than about 8 seconds of TV.

OH! and other HBO shows for sure. Deadwood in the hospital, Omar and boyfriend watching Oz, Journey playing the final Soprano's tune last episode, etc.

So what does everybody think of this fake serial killer storyline? I am a fan, but I tend to give shows the benefit of the doubt when others start rambling about sharks.

Others have drawn the same parallel: I think it's on par with Hamsterdam. It doesn't seem in keeping with the show's acclaimed realism, but it works for me in the context of a desperate Jimmy and Lester tired of getting thwarted by their own people.

So what does everybody think of this fake serial killer storyline? I am a fan, but I tend to give shows the benefit of the doubt when others start rambling about sharks.

Others have drawn the same parallel: I think it's on par with Hamsterdam. It doesn't seem in keeping with the show's acclaimed realism, but it works for me in the context of a desperate Jimmy and Lester tired of getting thwarted by their own people.

Yeah, honestly I'm kind of buying it. I mean, it's low profile homeless deaths that they're messing with so would probably go unnoticed a lot easier. As long as they don't start rubbing guys out themselves...

I'm into the serial killer storyline. I mean, the department may not give it a once over since no one is receiving ot pay and couple that with the Daniels promotion (shake up), no cop really gives a shit (except Bunk).

LOL...yeah, my silly move of skipping ahead? I watched the next like 30 seconds of the next episode and it's dude saying "Prop Joe was a good guy, but he had to go"

I gotta say, sad to see it happen, as Prop Joe was one of my favorite characters...but the resurgence of other characters over the rest of the season kind of makes up for it (and it is the LAST season and all).

It suprised me to see Prop Joe go but after the shenanigans he pulled in season 4 w/ the co-op I thought it might come.

Joe's manipulation of people seems more honorable because it was in the name of maintaining order, but ultimately he was still using people like pawns and that's always going to catch up to you in The Wire.